Students protest preacher on campus

By Emily Gurchiek and Megan Ferguson, Chattanooga, TN–A large group of students protested against a woman who came to campus to express her personal religious beliefs.

Photo by Tommy ColemanJefferson Hodge holds the gay pride flag while speaker Angela Cummings preaches to students in Heritage plaza. Crowds of students gathered around and many held signs expressing their opinions.

Angela Cummings travels across America and beyond preaching at college campuses and events.

On Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, Cummings was at UTC to preach about the holy spirit and how it works in people’s hearts.

“My calling is to be a soul doctor and help people get right with God,” Cummings said. “I travel a preach the gospel around campuses.”

Cummings wants everyone to come to Christ and, not only be a believer, but a follower.

“Only through Jesus can people go to heaven,” Cummings said.

Cummings said she finds sexuality unnatural and gay members of the community cannot enter heaven.

“I have the views of the bible,” Cummings said. “A homosexual or a gay person cannot enter heaven. There is no such thing as a drunk Christian or a pot smoking Christian.

Spectrum member Jefferson Hodge, a junior from Athens, Tenn., said there were times she was screaming and the crowd was antagonizing her.

“I was not yelling at her,” Hodge said. “I just kept telling her we do not welcome you here.”

Hodge said as someone coming from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, he thinks there is already enough discrimination.

University leaders, however, want students to be exposed to divergent thoughts, Chuck Cantrell, associate vice chancellor, said.

In the weekly SGA meeting, Jim Hicks, dean of students, said preachers on campus must notify when and where they will be speaking to have permission to be on campus.